Mariners Manager Confusion, Helps Cost Team Game...

[umpjim]

Originally Posted by pob14

Is that really a rule, though? I don't see anything remotely like it in MLB rules (though I could have missed it) - is it in the MLBUM, or is it one of those "unwritten rule" things?

From my 2010 PBUC: "Motioning to the bullpen is to be considered an official substitution for the new pitcher."

The MLBUM does not have this wording but does have a play example that says: "Legal, provided the manager has not signaled to the bullpen prior to informing the umpire of the multiple substitution."

In OBR and NCAA announced subs are in the game when the manager tells the umpire. If they tell you Joe is in for John, wait no, Mike is in for John, they have technically burned Joe. At the levels I umpire at I don't hold the managers to a mistakenly uttered sub. I don't know if they are that strict in MiLB or MLB but at least as far as the pitcher goes, yes.